BURR RIDGE, Ill. – Case IH is building the biggest tractor in its history. At a peak horsepower of 670, the Steiger 600 HD and Quadtrac models push the most power of any production tractor in North America.
“There are farmers who have a need for high horsepower, for the big (seed) drills and for tillage operations. We’re meeting those realities of modern agriculture with these machines,” said Mitch Kaiser.
Kaiser manages the Steiger tractor line for Case IH and was at the Burr Ridge, Illinois, research and development facility on the edge of Chicago when the tractors debuted earlier this summer.
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The additional power didn’t arrive without other changes to handle the torque delivered by the 12.9 Inveco Fiat Powertrain Technologies, Tier 4 compliant diesel.
The Steiger 550, 605 peak h.p. and the 600s now use a two-stage turbo system to compound the airflow through the big engines.
The 600 has additional changes in the pistons and valve train over the 550 model to support the additional power building process.
This is the same engine found in the Case IH 9120 combine.
Tom Dean of Case IH said the engineers beefed up 550 and 600 lines with 5.5 inch axles and 18 bolt hubs.
“Our competitors are running 10 bolt hubs and smaller axles,” he said.
Maria Grazia Lisbona heads the engine engineering department at Case IH North America.
She said the company chose to add a second fluid to its engines, diesel exhaust fluid, urea, to meet new North American regulations for exhaust emissions.
She added that the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) wasn’t added because farmers were asking for it.
“It is part of new regulations, but we chose to make sure there were some advantages to it for the farmer.
“These engines meet the standards, but they also are more fuel efficient and have reduced maintenance intervals,” said the engineer.
SCR operates after the combustion process by treating the exhaust before release, rather than reburning in the cylinders and then treating with diesel fuel in a catalytic converter.
“This runs cooler when the machines are running loaded. Not reintroducing exhaust gases maintains the integrity of the engine oil, meaning it can remain in the engine for longer periods. That results in more time in the field instead of the shop,” she said.
Kaiser said the majority of highway tractors are using the SRC system. Agco is also using this approach to Tier 4 compliance.
John Deere has chosen to use a particulate filter and exhaust gas recirculation system.
The Steiger cab’s overall design remains the same, but all the high horsepower tractors boast a new joystick that contains most of the tractor’s major functions as buttons.
The company brought in farmers from across the United States to design the controller.
Larry Johnson took part in the design panel that created the new Steiger.
“The result is a control that is in the right place and lets you run the machine without having to search or reach for hydraulics, gears or throttle. It’s all in your hand so you can keep busy watching the monitor or the field,” said the Christine, North Dakota farmer.
An end of row function is also located on the stick
“The boot rest above the clutch is another important item. It’s small, but when you spend two months in a tractor cab, long days, it adds up,” he said about operating 3,600 acres.
The operator’s seat swivels 40 degrees and with it goes the monitor, armrest and multi-control handle.
Other cab controls that are used less often have been moved to the headliner to improve overall visibility.
New power and radio connections have been added to accommodate and store communications equipment, laptop computers, smart phones and MP3 players.
A new hydraulic option is the 113 gallon per minute parallel flow system for large air seeders and construction equipment.
The system automatically adjusts for temperature related oil viscosity changes. The machines are available with up to eight valves.
Fuel tank capacity has been boosted to 470 gallons and like all the fluid levels on the machine, it keeps its sight gauge, making evaluation possible before climbing into the cab.
A new suspension for the cab is being offered as an option.
All Steiger four-wheel drive models, 450, 500, 550 and 600, are offered as a Quadtrac, rubber track system.
The 350, 400 and 450 use a narrower frame than the larger siblings, but retain the long wheelbase of the others.
The 400 and 450 use the 12.9 litre engine of their big brothers.
The 350 has the 8.7 L that is found in the axial flow 7120 combine.
ABOVE: The new cab provides an improved view.
LEFT: The machines are Tier 4 compliant using SCR technology.
BELOW: The machine’s hydraulics bank on the scraper version of the 600 HD has cutaways on either side of the drawbar for extra clearance. This might be popular with some prairie farmers after the muddy conditions this year. Up to eight valves are available.
